For Educators

As a teacher, you may have contact with colleagues or student's parents that have been diagnosed with cancer. It can be an emotional and stressful time for them and their families but it can also impact you, the students you work with and their studies.

While there are many great resources that exist, both on the Internet and in your local library, that address cancer-related issues, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. The suggestions below provide you with a starting point of how to access information and encourage you to learn as much as you can in order to support your students and yourself during what can be a stressful, emotional experience.

What You Can Do

It may be helpful for you to seek support and learn more about cancer and the issues that may be affecting members of your school community who are dealing with cancer. Learning more can help you decide how to best work with your students, their families or your colleagues.

Find resources to support your student, colleague and their family:

Learn more about cancer and the common issues that impact someone diagnosed with cancer at LIVESTRONG.org/Get-Help.

Order a free LIVESTRONG Guidebook at LIVESTRONG.org/Guidebook You can provide this to your colleague or student's family as a way for them to learn more and guide and organize their cancer experience.

Contact LIVESTRONG Navigation Services at 1.855.220.7777 for free, one-on-one emotional support, counseling and referrals to local resources. They can be helpful to you, your colleague, your student's family and anyone else affected by cancer.

Provide support for your students in the classroom:

Teach the appropriate grade level of the LIVESTRONG at School Curriculum to your students to help them learn how cancer affects an individual and what they can do to help.

Recognize that if a student's parent has cancer, the student's behaviors may change. Supporting them through this difficult time is essential to their coping.

Consult the Welcome Back: Facilitating the Return to School for Children with Cancer resource guide to identify organizations, websites, books and videos that help with the educational needs of childhood cancer survivors.

Livestrong At School Curriculum

This free, age-appropriate curriculum can help your students learn how cancer affects individuals and what they can do to help.